Apologies for cross-posting,
good folk,
A brief line to confirm that the Rescue!History-organised conference 'An End to History?' is going ahead on April 3 (outline below). Conference organisers have decided to cohere this into a one day event only but it will be certainly worth the effort for all participants.
Full details including speakers, to follow shortly (plus directions, accommodation for those who need etc.)
Now thus the time to pencil in the day and when you're ready to contact [log in to unmask] to book your place.
Please circulate as widely as possible.
Also note that there should be good news on our multi-contributor book following shortly.
If you have queries contact : [log in to unmask]
happy new year,
Mark
--------------------------------------------------------------
- Crisis Forum ('The Forum for the Study of Crisis in the 21st Century')
http://www.crisis-forum.org.uk
- Rescue!History
http://rescue-history-from-climate-change.org/indexClassic.php
SURVIVING CLIMATE CHANGE. The struggle to avert global catastrophe. Edited by David Cromwell and Mark Levene. (Pluto Press, October, 2007)
- ' Only Connect, Why History Really Matters', History Today, Nov. 2007, 42-44
-----------------------------------------------
An End to History?
Climate Change, the Past and the Future
3 April 2008
Birmingham and Midland Institute, Birmingham
The premise of this conference is that human society has had a potentially catastrophic effect on the earth¹s climate. For some commentators it is not out of the question that we will bring about our own extinction unless we modify our behaviour. And while the scientific community has had a major influence on governments¹ and the public¹s understanding of climate change, the contribution of the humanities has been less significant. With that in view, this one-day conference seeks contributions from across the humanities, from historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists, human geographers, demographers, philosophers, writers, and from students of politics, economics, international relations, religion, literature and culture.
Contributions will aim to:
… explore how this potentially catastrophic situation has arisen
… understand how societies, polities and cultures have previously, or currently, sustained themselves in conditions of scarcity and adversity
… learn from the experiences of past and current societies which have coped with severe climate or environmental change
… raise awareness of the value of humanities for understanding climate change and its impact on past and present societies
The conference is open to everyone with an interest in the development of our understanding of climate and its relationship to past, present and future society - whether they are researchers, teachers, students, campaigners or others. Please submit brief abstracts (200 word max) by November 30 2007.
There will be a conference fee of £15 per day for waged delegates. For students and the unwaged there will be a fee of £10 per day and a small number of bursaries will be available to allow free attendance. A list of accommodation in Birmingham can be provided to delegates.
Contact: [log in to unmask]
The conference is supported and co-organised by the University of Southampton and University of Birmingham.